Protective garments

ABSTRACT

A protective garment assembly; the protective garment assembly includes an upper garment, a lower garment and protective material attached thereto. Particularly the protective material is attached to shoulder, elbow and forearm areas of the upper garment; and tailbone, hip, thigh, knee and shin areas of the lower garment. The protective material is sewn into clothing and concealed. As designed, it affords adequate, but discrete protection in the event of a trip and fall, thus reducing risk of broken bones, surgeries, and fatalities.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/687,574 filed Jun. 20, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of garments and more specifically relates to protective garments.

2. Description of Related Art

Accidental falls are among the leading cause of death of the elderly. Falls can cause older individuals to break shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and more. The surgery and anesthesia that results from these falls can be fatal to an older individual. In addition, a recovery from a fall is extremely taxing on the elderly. Falling is the second leading cause of accidental death worldwide and is a major cause of personal injury, especially for the elderly. Falls in older adults are an important class of preventable injuries. It may be by slipping or tripping from stable surfaces or stairs, improper footwear, dark surroundings, uneven ground, etc. Older people are at risk due to accidents, gait disturbances, balance disorders, changed reflexes due to visual, sensory, motor and cognitive impairment, medications, infections, and dehydration.

U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0293703 to Celine Tezartes-Straus relates to a garment with built-in protecting pads. The described garment with built-in protecting pads includes one or more built-in protective pads permanently or semi-permanently attached thereto, the pads being energy dissipating, conformable to the surface of the wearer body, durable and washable. The pads may include polyurethane or other similarly propertied cushioning material and may be permanently or semi-permanently fabricated into the garment fabric by applying or otherwise integrating the cushioning material to fabric, the fabric being any commonly used fabric. The cushioning material may be applied by molding, pouring or otherwise applying the material to the garment. The individual pads can vary in colors, rigidity, and other properties.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known garment(s) art, the present disclosure provides a novel protective garment. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a protective lining sewn into normal clothing and concealed, appealing to elderly or disabled users who may be at increased risk of falling and sustaining serious injuries. As designed, it affords adequate, but discrete protection in the event of a trip and fall, reducing risk of broken bones, surgeries, and fatalities.

A protective garment system/assembly is disclosed herein. The protective garment assembly includes an upper garment which may include a torso-section and a first arm-section opposite a second arm-section. The first arm-section may have a first shoulder-section, the second arm-section may have a second shoulder-section and the first shoulder-section and the second shoulder-section each may include a protective material attached thereto. Further, a lower garment may be provided may include a waist-section and a first leg-section opposite a second leg-section. The waist-section may have a tailbone-section and a hip-section, the first-leg section may have a first thigh-section, the second leg-section may include a second thigh-section, and the tailbone-section, the hip-section, the first thigh-section and the second leg-section each may include the protective material attached thereto.

A method of using the protective garment assembly is also disclosed herein. The method of using protective garment assemblies may comprise the steps of: providing the protective garment assembly as above; putting the torso-section over a torso of a wearer; placing a first arm of the wearer through the first arm-section; placing a second arm of the wearer through the second arm-section; inserting a first leg of the wearer through the first leg-section; inserting a second leg of the wearer through the second leg-section; pulling the waist-section over a waist of the wearer; and wearing the upper garment and the lower garment to protect a body of the wearer in event of an accident.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, protective garments, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the protective garment assembly during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the protective garment assembly of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front and rear perspective view of the protective garment assembly of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front and side perspective view of the protective garment assembly of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for protective garment assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to garments and more particularly to protective garments as used to improve protection of wearer-users.

Generally, disclosed is clothing with protective armor which may comprise a line of clothing having protective armor lining which may be designed to be hidden within normal appearing clothing. The clothing may include everyday clothing essentials, including shirts, shorts, pants, etc.

The protective armor may be sewn into the clothing and concealed. In one embodiment, the protective armor may comprise clothing having interior lining. The interior lining may comprise cotton, polyester, nylon, and the like. Further, the protective armor may comprise supplemental padding around the tailbone, hips, thigh region, knee area, and shin region of pants, shorts, and the like. Additionally, the protective armor may comprise supplemental padding around and about the shoulders, elbows, and forearms of shirts (long and short sleeve). In such a manner, a user who is elderly is has a soft cushion buffer on and around all major joints and limbs of the body to provide sufficient armor and protection against falls, bumps, and spills. Certain embodiments may be modular. In one embodiment, the liner and the padding may comprise high density carbon fiber. In other embodiments, the liner and the padding may comprise high density rubber polymer. Other materials are also contemplated. The exact specifications, materials used, and method of use of the body armor for the elderly system may vary upon manufacturing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a protective garment assembly 100.

FIG. 1 shows a protective garment assembly 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 150, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the protective garment assembly 100 may include an upper garment 110, a lower garment 120, and a protective material 130.

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the protective garment assembly 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The upper garment 110 may include a torso-section 111 and a first arm-section 112 opposite a second arm-section 113. The first arm-section 112 may have a first shoulder-section 114 and the second arm-section 113 may have a second shoulder-section 115. The first shoulder-section 114 and the second shoulder-section 115 each may include the protective material 130 attached thereto.

Further, the first arm-section 112 may further include a first elbow-section 116 and a first forearm-section, and each of the first elbow-section 116 and the first forearm-section 118 may include the protective material 130 attached thereto. Similarly, the second arm-section 113 may further include a second elbow-section 117 and a second forearm-section 119, and each of the second elbow-section 117 and the second forearm-section 119 may include the protective material 130 attached thereto. Preferably, the protective material 130 may be attached in areas where may be particularly damaged or injured upon a wearer of the upper garment 110 falling or getting into an accident. For this reason, areas on the upper garment 110 that have the protective material 130 attached thereto are not confined to just shoulders, elbows or forearms.

In one embodiment, the upper garment 110 may be a short-sleeved T-shirt. In this embodiment, the upper garment 110 may just include the first shoulder-section 114 and the second shoulder-section 115 including the protective material 130 attached thereto. In another embodiment, the upper garment 110 may be a long sleeved T-shirt, and in this embodiment, the upper garment 110 may include the first shoulder-section 114 and the second shoulder-section 115, as well as the first elbow-section, the second elbow-section, the first forearm-section 118 and the second forearm-section.

FIG. 3 shows a front and rear perspective view of the protective garment assembly 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the lower garment 120 may include a waist-section 121 and a first leg-section 122 opposite a second leg-section 123. The waist-section 121 may have a tailbone-section 124 and a hip-section 125, the first-leg section may have a first thigh-section 126 and the second leg-section 123 may include a second thigh-section 127. The tailbone-section, the hip-section 125, the first thigh-section 126 and the second leg-section 123 each may include the protective material 130 attached thereto.

Further, the first leg-section 122 may include a first knee-section 128 and a first shin-section 131, and the first knee-section 128 and the first shin-section 131 may include the protective material 130 attached thereto. Similarly, the second leg-section 123 may include a second knee-section 129 and a second shin-section, and the second knee-section 129 and the second shin-section 132 may include the protective material 130 attached thereto. As above, the protective material 130 may be attached in areas where may be particularly damaged or injured upon a wearer of the upper garment 110 falling, or getting into an accident, so areas of the lower garment 120 that have the protective material 130 attached thereto are not confined to just tailbone, hip, thigh, knee and shin.

In one embodiment, the lower garment 120 may be a pair of shorts. In this embodiment, the lower garment 120 may include the waist-section 121 including the tailbone-section 124 and the hip-section 125. In some embodiments including the pair of shorts, the lower garment 120 may also include the first thigh-section 126 and the second thigh-section 127. In some other embodiments, the lower garment 120 may further include the first knee-section 128 and the second knee-section 129. In another embodiment, the lower garment 120 may be a pair of trousers. In this embodiment, the lower garment 120 may include the first shin-section 131 and the second shin-section 132 also.

FIG. 4 shows a front and side perspective view of the protective garment assembly 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As discussed, protective material 130 may be attached in areas more prone to damage on a body of the wearer. In some embodiments, different areas may include a different level of protective material 130. For example, the first knee-section 128 and the second knee-section 129 may include more protective 130 material than the first thigh-section 126 and the second thigh-section 127. In other embodiments, the protective material 130 may be the same amount everywhere.

The protective material 130 may be configured to provide cushioning and support, whilst also absorbing shock. Preferably, the protective material 130 may include a protective lining and a protective padding. The protective material 130 may be sewn into the upper garment 110 and the lower garment 120. In one example, the protective lining may be sewn on an underside of the upper garment 110 and the lower garment 120, and the protective padding may be inserted therein. In another example, the protective padding may be sewn directly into the underside of the upper garment 110 and the lower garment 120.

In one example, the protective material 130 may be an elastomer material configured to absorb shock. In another example, the protective material 130 may be a synthetic fiber material. In another example, the protective material 130 may be a high-density carbon fiber material. In another example, protective material 130 may be a high density rubber polymer material. In another example, the protective material 130 may be a plastic material. In yet another example, the protective material 130 may be a metal material. It should be appreciated that a variety of materials are contemplated for the protective material 130 and the materials listed here are not an exhaustive list. In some examples, the protective lining may include cotton, polyester, nylon and the like.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a protective garment assembly 500, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method of using a protective garment assembly 500 may include the steps of: providing 501 the protective garment assembly as above; putting 502 the torso-section over a torso of a wearer; placing 503 a first arm of the wearer through the first arm-section; placing 504 a second arm of the wearer through the second arm-section; inserting 505 a first leg of the wearer through the first leg-section; inserting 506 a second leg of the wearer through the second leg-section; pulling 507 the waist-section over a waist of the wearer; and wearing 508 the upper garment and the lower garment to protect a body of the wearer in event of an accident.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for protective garment assembly 100 (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A protective garment assembly comprising: an upper garment including a torso-section and a first arm-section opposite a second arm-section, the first arm-section having a first shoulder-section, the second arm-section having a second shoulder-section, and wherein the first shoulder-section and the second shoulder-section each include a protective material attached thereto; and a lower garment including a waist-section and a first leg-section opposite a second leg-section, the waist-section having a tailbone-section and a hip-section, the first-leg section having a first thigh-section, the second leg-section including a second thigh-section, and wherein the tailbone-section, the hip-section, the first thigh-section and the second leg-section each include the protective material attached thereto.
 2. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective material is an elastomer material configured absorb shock.
 3. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective material is a synthetic fiber material.
 4. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective material is a high-density carbon fiber material.
 5. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective material is a high density rubber polymer material.
 6. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arm-section further includes a first elbow-section and wherein the first elbow-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 7. The protective garment assembly of claim 6, wherein the second-arm section further includes a second elbow-section and wherein the second elbow-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 8. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arm-section further includes a first forearm-section and wherein the first forearm-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 9. The protective garment assembly of claim 8, wherein the second arm-section further includes a second forearm-section and wherein the second forearm-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 10. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the first leg-section includes a first knee-section and wherein the first knee-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 11. The protective garment assembly of claim 10, wherein the second leg-section includes a second knee-section and wherein the second knee-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 12. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the first leg-section includes a first shin-section and wherein the first shin-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 13. The protective garment assembly of claim 13, wherein the second leg-section includes a second shin-section and wherein the second shin-section includes the protective material attached thereto.
 15. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper garment is a short-sleeved T-shirt.
 16. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper garment is a long-sleeved T-shirt.
 17. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower garment is a pair of shorts.
 18. The protective garment assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower garment is a pair of trousers.
 19. A protective garment assembly comprising: an upper garment including a torso-section and a first arm-section opposite a second arm-section, the first arm-section having a first shoulder-section, a first elbow-section, a first forearm-section, the second arm-section having a second shoulder-section, a second elbow-section, a second forearm-section and wherein the first shoulder-section, the first elbow-section, the first forearm-section, the second shoulder-section, the second elbow-section and the second forearm-section each include a protective material attached thereto; and a lower garment including a waist-section and a first leg-section opposite a second leg-section, the waist-section having a tailbone-section and a hip-section, the first-leg section having a first thigh-section, a first knee-section, and a first shin-section, the second leg-section including a second thigh-section, a second knee-section, and a second shin-section, and wherein the tailbone-section, the hip-section, the first thigh-section, the first knee-section, the first shin-section, the second thigh-section, the second knee-section and the second shin-section each include the protective material attached thereto.
 20. A method of using a protective garment assembly, the method comprising the steps of: providing the protective garment assembly including: an upper garment including a torso-section and a first arm-section opposite a second arm-section, the first arm-section having a first shoulder-section, the second arm-section having a second shoulder-section, and wherein the first shoulder-section and the second shoulder-section each include a protective material attached thereto; and a lower garment including a waist-section and a first leg-section opposite a second leg-section, the waist-section having a tailbone-section and a hip-section, the first-leg section having a first thigh-section, the second leg-section including a second thigh-section, and wherein the tailbone-section, the hip-section, the first thigh-section and the second leg-section each include the protective material attached thereto; putting the torso-section over a torso of a wearer; placing a first arm of the wearer through the first arm-section; placing a second arm of the wearer through the second arm-section; inserting a first leg of the wearer through the first leg-section; inserting a second leg of the wearer through the second leg-section; pulling the waist-section over a waist of the wearer; and wearing the upper garment and the lower garment to protect a body of the wearer in event of an accident. 